Tie plate and rail anchor



Sept. 2, 1941. M. L. MYER ETAL I 2,254,540

I TIE FLATE AND RAIL ANCHOR Filed April 20,- 1940 10 I 3 v w I 2/ 9' a v E 8 2 1 2 ME] 5 Patentecl Sept. 2, 1941 TIE PLATE AND RAIL ANCHOR Moses L. Myer, University City, Mo., and Henry C.

Myer, Denver, Colo.

Applicatien April 29, 1940, Serial No. 339,684

Ciaims. (Cl. 238349) This invention relates to tie plates and anchors for railway rail.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a railway tie plate and fastener of economical construction, so arranged that the fastener may be readily inserted, removed and tightened, and which will be generally efficient in service. Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient fastening means arranged in such a manner as to dampen the rail wave and'thus reduce the tendency of damage to rail fastenings and to loosen spikes which hold the plate or rail in position on the ties. A further object is to provide a tie plate and fastener which will also act as a rail anchor to prevent or reduce the tendency of rail creeping.

Other objects of the invention are inherent ment of its upper surface with the upper edge ll] of the slot nearest the rail and of its lower surface with the lower edge I I of the slot farthest from the rail. To assist in holding the clip in position one of the engaging surfaces of the clip is erose or, as specifically shown, has a series of parallel grooves 9 into which the edge of the slot extends (the edge I I as shown in Fig. 2).

It is preferable that the erose surface be on the bottom of the clip to engage the outer edge in the device and may be apparent from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan View with the ball of the rail removed, better to display the novel features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a clip or fastener.

As specifically shown in the drawing, a tie plate has a bottom plane surface to lie upon a railway tie and includes a rail seat I, lateral extensions or aprons 2 and 3, and upwardly extending shoulders or lugs 4 and 5, which define the rail seat I on the upper surface of the plate. The aprons or extensions 3 and 4 have spike holes 6 by which the plate may be fastened to a tie.

The shoulders 4 and 5 extend upwardly a sufiicient distance to accommodate orifices I through which resilient clips 8 are inserted to engage the inclined upper surfaces of the base of a rail R.

The clips 8 comprise rectangular pieces of resilient material such as spring steel, of uniform thickness except for grooves or erosions 9. As specifically shown, the grooves 9 are parallel to each other and parallel to the ends of the clips.

The clips 8 are inserted through the orifices I so as to engage the sloping surface of the base of the rail along a line intermediate the edge of the rail and the web and substantially removed from the edge. The orifices are so positioned and proportioned that the clips will be substantially horizontal, or at least will meet the face of the inclined surfaces on the rail at an acute angle. When in position, as shown in Fig.

2, the clip will be held in position by engage- H of the orifices. The erose surface being on the bottom is less likely to be weathered or to become filled with dirt. Furthermore it adds facility in removing the clip because the outer end of the clip may be raised slightly with a convenient tool, thus releasing the hold.

By proportioning the parts so that the clip engages substantially beyond the edge of the rail a resilient connection is made, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, between the tie plate and the rail. If the clip engages directly at the edge of the rail there would be a tendency of the clip to shear under the rail vibration. The resilient connection reduces any sudden stress against the parts, reducing the tendency of the clip to rip the top off the slot and reduces the tendency of the spikes in the holes 6 to loosen.

As specifically shown in the drawing, the slots or orifices l are inclined downwardly toward the center of the plate. This arrangement performs several functions. The slots or orifices I should be of such a size as to give ample clearance for the clip 8, and if the walls of the slots were horizontal the clip would be inclined upwardly toward the center and would meet the inclined surface of the rail base at an angle less than that which is preferable. By inclining the walls of the slots, as shown in Fig. 2, sufiicient clearance can be given the clips and yet they may be held in a horizontal position or even inclined slightly downward toward the center of the rail. The edge II is formed on an angle of less than thus providing a better engagement in the grooves 9 on the clip.

As specifically shown, the shoulders 4 and 5 are of uniform height throughout the length of the plate. It may be understood, however, that this is not necessary, it being sufficient for the purposes of this invention that they extend a sufficient distance to form the slots 1, and to hold the clips 8. The shoulders 4 and 5 may be formed integral with the tie plate by rolling; that is the plate may be cut from bar stock which has been rolled to proper form, in ac- 2 l W ,l

cordance with common practice in the art. Or the shoulders or lugs 4 and 5 may be formed separately and welded to the base of the tie plate, which has been previously out from bar stock as indicated. In such a casabbreviated shoulders 4 and 5 may be formed on the bar stock if desired. Y n

For convenience and economy the parallel grooves 9 may be formed on both sides of the clip 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3-. These grooves are so positioned that the grooves in one face will be engaged by an edge of the slot (l I, for instance) if the clip is inserted in one position, and the grooves on the other face will be engaged by the same edgeif the clip is transposed end for end and turned over. Thus, if the clip has been in service and has taken a set of the form as shown in Fig, 2, the clip may be reversed when replaced so that its eificiency will claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

We claim:

1. A railway tie plate and anchor comprising a plate having a rail seat of a width substantially equal to that ofthe. rail base and defined by spacedvertical, upstanding shoulders on each side'of the seat,'with slots through the shoulders having at least one wall inclined downwardly and inwardly, and a resilient key oflsubstantially uniformthicknessextending through each slot clampingly engaging aninclined upper surface of the rail base and held in position by engagement of its upper surface with the upper edge of the slot nearest the rail and of its lower surface with the lower edge of the slot farthest from the rail at least oneof said edges beingformed by an inclined wall of the slot so that the edge coniprises anangle substantially less than 2. A railway tie plate and anchor comprising a plate having a rail seat, of a width substantially equal to that of the rail base and defined by spaced vertical upstanding shoulders on each side of the seat, with downwardly and inwardly inclined slots therethrough; and a resilient key extending through each slot clampingly engaging an inclined upper surface of th rail base and held in position by engagement of its upper surface with the upper edge of the slot nearest the rail and of its lower surface with the lower edge of. the slot farthest from the rail, the said key having a series of parallel grooves in its surface engaging one of said edges, that edge being formed by an inclined wall of the slot so that it comprises an angle substantially less than 90.

3. A clip for a railway tie plate of substantially uniform thickness adapted to be inserted through a slot in a shoulder on the tie plate, with its inner end engaging the upper surface of a rail base, and having a series of grooves parallel to its ends on one face nearer one end than the other and similar grooves on the opposite face nearer the opposite end.

4. A clip for a railway tie plate of substantially uniform thickness adapted to be inserted through a slot in a shoulder on the tie plate, with its inner end engaging the upper surface of a rail base, and having a series of grooves parallelto its ends on each face, so positioned that the grooves on one face will be engaged by an edge of the slot if the clip is inserted in one position and the grooves on the other face will be engaged by the same edge if the clip is transposed end for end andturned over.

MOSES L. MYER. HENRY C. MYER. 

